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3.4 Food Industry Wastewater Treatment

Technical Description

This technology was developed to treat wastewater from the edible oil industry. The technology is modular, and the treatment module is suitable for continuous or batch operating regimes, depending on the particular conditions at the plant concerned. The major advantage of the modular system is the possibility of installing it in close proximity to the pollution source. The module operates in three stages: precipitation, coagulation-flocculation, and polyelectrolyte treatment. The effluent initially goes through a gravity separator that removes the floatable fatty oils. The wastewater entering the second stage of the treatment process, therefore, contains only those fatty materials in emulsion, which are separated in two stages of chemical treatment. The first stage loosens the oil-water bonds, while the second stage separates the oil drops from water. A finishing stage provides process control and improvement of the effluent to meet water quality discharge requirements.

Extent of Use

This technology is used in Romania.

Operation and Maintenance

The technology uses well known principles of wastewater treatment, and is easy to build and maintain. The reagents used are common water treatment chemicals which are readily available in the region. Treatment plants using this technology can be operated and maintained by one or two trained workers.

Level of Involvement

The technology is implemented at the local community or individual industry levels.

Costs

The costs depend on the quality of water required to be achieved and number of stages of treatment necessary to achieve the required quality.

Effectiveness of the Technology

Table 3 shows the typical improvement in effluent quality that can be achieved with this technology. The technology is capable of treating food industry wastewater to an acceptable standard for discharge to natural water courses.

Suitability

This technology has been proven to be effective in purifying wastewater contaminated with fatty oils, and, as such, is suitable for use in treating wastewater from the manufacture of margarine, wastewater from the meat products industry, and wastewater from the dressings production plants.

TABLE 3. Improvements on Water Quality Achieved with Wastewater Treatment.

Advantages

The technology can be maintained at local industry level, and may be adapted to suit the requirements of specific industrial operations. The technology uses readily available reagents, which are unique to each stage of the treatment process. Depending on the particular situation, the stages may be combined or partially suprimated. A direct advantage of this technology is the recovery of the fatty materials which might be reused. In addition, there are two indirect advantages; namely, the elimination of a major portion of the pollutant load from the effluent stream, and a decreased oil and grease load on the purification plant.

Disadvantages

There are no known disadvantages.

Cultural Acceptability

This technology is acceptable as a wastewater treatment technique.

Further Development of the Technology

The technology is fully developed.

Information Sources

Anca Manea and Alexandra Orlescu, Food Chemistry Institute, Str Girlei 1, sector 1, Bucharest, Romania, Tel. (40-1) 679 20 40.

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